Lighter



Dec. 14, 1965 A. B. GELLMAN 3,222,894

LIGHTER Filed July 25, 1962 United States Patent 3,222,894 LIGHTER Allen B. Gellman, Glencoe, 111., assignor, by mcsne assignments, to Waltham Watch Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,664 7 Claims. ((Il. 677.1)

This invention relates to a lighter and more particularly to a lighter utilizing liquified fuel, as butane, malntained in a reservoir of the lighter under substantial pressure.

This invention is an improvement of the lighter disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 78,491, filed December 27, 1960.

One feature of the invention is the provision of an adjustable flame control for such a lighter, including an adjustable fuel metering means in a fuel passage of the lighter together with both a rough or coarse adjustment control for the metering means and a fine adjustment control for the metering means. More specifically, the adjustable fuel metering means is preferably a compressible porous member and the adjustable controls are threaded members, one carried by the other and in operative relation with the compressible member, the threads of the two members being of different pitches to provide both coarse and fine control.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a lighter with a removable operating mechanism including an actuator for the fuel control valve, and a removable block carrying the fuel control valve, the fuel metering means and the fuel burner.

A further feature is the provision of a lighter having an outer case with means defining a chamber for fuel therein, a valve block above the chamber, having a fuel passage in communication therewith and means holding the block in the outer case including at least one member threaded to the block and extending into an aperture in the casing.

Still another feature is the provision of such a lighter thumb piece of the lighter mechanism by a releasable lug connector.

Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken section of a lighter embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the valve and fuel metering mechanism of the lighter; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

An important aspect of the present invention is that the lighter has a removable and replaceable operating mechanism and valve block assembly, permitting removal and replacement for repair of either of these elements, without damage to or replacement of the outer lighter casing. Lighters are frequently given as gifts or prizes and the case may be of a precious or semi-precious material or may be engraved with initials or other legends. The construction of the present invention permits repair or replacement of the operating parts of the lighter without damage to the case. Thus, a lighter which may have 3,222,894 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 great monetary or sentimental value, or both, need not be discarded merely because of a malfunction of the mechanism.

Turning now to the drawings, the lighter includes an outer casing 10 within which is secured a platform 11. The space 12 below the platform 11 provides a reservo1r for pressurized liquid fuel 13, as butane. Carried above platform 11 is a block 15 within which are mounted the gas control valves.

The operating mechanism 16 is removably carned above block 15. The operating mechanism includes a depressible thumb piece 17 which is pivoted at 18, and when depressed lifts snulfer cap 19 and strikes a spark from flint 20 igniting gas at the top of burner tube 21. Return spring 22 is compressed upon depression of thumb piece 17 and further serves to urge flint follower 23 against the flint. Further details of the operating mechanism may be found in Gellman Patent 2,791,110, dated May 7, 1957. The mechanism has a bottom deck 24 with an upturned finger 25 at one end, which is engaged beneath an inturned lip 26a of plate 26. Plate 27 aids in holding block 15 in the case. A manually engageable projection 28 at the other end of deck 24 facilitates removal of the mechanism.

Block 15 carries a fuel metering valve assembly 30, an inlet and vent assembly 31 and has therein a fuel delivery passage 32 which communicates with burner nozzle 21. The valve assemblies will be described in detail with ref erence to FIGURE 2. Platform 11 has an inlet port 35 and an outlet port 36. A diaphragm member 37 has an enlarged periphery 38 providing a seal about inlet port 35. O-ring 39 provides a seal about port 36.

Fuel metering valve assembly 30 is received in a bore 40 extending inwardly from the right or rear end of block 15. At the inner end of the assemblya valve seat member 41 is positioned against a shoulder 42, and has a fuel passage 43 therethrough. A cup-shaped filter holder 44 has a small fuel metering passage 45 therethrough, aligned with passage 43. The fuel filter 46, as a porous paper material, is received in the cup-like recess of filter holder 44 and is held in place by a wick holder 47 which has a nose portion 48 around which wick 49 extends. The surface of nose 48 is chamfered as indicated at 50, applying pressure principally to the center of the filter 46. An O-ring 53 seals the wick holder to the bore 40 preventing escape of gas.

The lighter incorporates a dual fuel adjustment, 'both of which operate through the wick holder to vary the pressure applied to filter 46. A sleeve 54 is threaded into bore 40 and is provided at its outer end with an enlarged manually engageable adjusting wheel 55. The screw 56 is threaded inside sleeve 54 and engages wick holder 47. The slotted head 57 of the screw is exposed inside adjusting wheel 55, to receive a tool for adjusting the screw position. The range of movement of adjusting wheel is limited by a pin 53 which strikes the lower edge 27a of holding plate 27, preventing full rotation of the sleeve.

A ball valve 60 is seated against resilient valve member 41 and is held in place by a plunger 61 located in bore 62 and slidable on an upstanding filler tube 63 which extends through the bore. A spring 64 urges plunger 61 upwardly against a retainer plate 65 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. O-ring 66 seals the upper end of bore 62. Plunger 61 has a shoulder 67 which holds ball 60 against seat 41 closing fuel passage 43. Plunger 61 is depressed upon actuation of the lighter, as will appear, and moved downwardly to a position in which ball 61) drops into recess or groove 68 formed therein. This permits the fuel to flow from metering passage 43-4-5 through passage 32 to burner nozzle 21.

Connector member 70 is carried by thumb piece 17 and extends downwardly in alignment with valve actuator plunger 61. Upon depression of thumb piece 17 to operate the lighter, connector 70 moves downwardly into engagement with plunger 61, depressing it far enough to allow valve 60 to move away from its seat. Thumb piece 17 has a pair of depending wall portions 17a and 17b. Slots, as 17c, are formed therein at a point below the top of mechanism side plate 72. Connector 71) has thereon a pair of radial lugs 71 which extend into the slots, mounting the connector 70 loosely so that it will be aligned as it moves downwardly into bore 62 without binding. Connector 70 is assembled with the thumb piece 17 by inserting it between the side walls and then rotating it 90 to bring the lugs 71 into the slots in the walls. Flint spring 22 extends through a slot 70a in the connector, preventing its rotation after assembly.

Filler tube 63 has a passage 63a therethrough utilized in filling the lighter. The lower end of passage 63a is provided with a diaphragm check valve 37 exposed to the high pressure within the reservoir 12 through inlet opening 35. When the lighter is filled, the pressure inside the chamber seats diaphragm 37 on the lower surface of block 15, preventing the escape of gas from the reservoir. In filling the lighter, mechanism 16 is first removed exposing the top of filler tube 63. The spout of the can of liquified butane gas is forced against the filler tube, opening the valve in the can (not shown) and admitting fuel to the inlet passage 63a. The pressure of the fuel in the can opens diaphragm valve 37 and the fuel flows into reservoir 12 through a small port 74 in the diaphragm.

It sometimes happens that the pressure of fuel remaining in chamber 12 slows the delivery of fuel from the can. Accordingly, a vent is provided for the fuel chamber. Vent passage 76 extends from wick bore 49a to the bottom of bore 62. It is closed by a resilient ring 77 which is forced against the bore wall by an expansion ring '78. The tapered lower edge 79 of plunger 61 is moved downwardly outside ring 77 during the filling operation, opening the vent valve 77 and permitting gas in the reservoir to fill passage 32. Ball valve 32a is moved upwardly by the force of the escaping gas to the broken line position of FIGURE 1, seated against the bottom of burner nozzle 21. Passage 32 and the space below nozzle 21 holds a substantial portion of the gas which is vented during filling. Furthermore, ball 32a allows some leakage through the nozzle. This leakage reduces the pressure following filling, allowing the ball to drop. The reduction of the flow of vent gas to atmosphere substantially eliminates any discomfort during filling.

The ball 32a is too heavy to be closed by the relatively slow flow of gas during operation. However, if the pressure reducer should fail to operate properly, the ball will seat, preventing an excessively large flame.

The vent through passage 32 is separated from filler passage 63a. Cooling of the structure on expansion of the venting gas does not cause formation of frost in the filler tube, which would interfere with filling.

The spout on the filling can may slide over filler tube 63 and force the plunger 61 downwardly. However, it is preferable that the can spout seat on the top of tube 63 and an auxiliary outer sleeve be provided which forces the plunger downwardly.

Block is held in the lighter casing by a combination of means. The forward or left end of the block is provided with a screw 82 which may close the end of passageway 32. With the block in place in the lighter, this screw is backed out into an aperture 83 in the casing. The right or rear end of block 15 is held down by plate 27. The bottom edge of 27a of plate 27 bears against surfaces 84 of block 15 on either side of sleeve 54. A further locking plate 86 is provided under flange 21a of burner nozzle 21. This locking plate extends beneath a plate 87 fastened to the inside of casing 10. The locking plate may be withdrawn by loosening threaded burner nozzle 21.

Block 15 is generally rectangular in outline but the upper left and lower right corners are relieved or cut away as indicated at 90 and 91, respectively. This permits the block to be swung into position in the casing.

The right or rear end of the block is secured by holding plate 27. The holding plate is removed by forcing the upper end of the plate to the left withdrawing rivet 92 from aperture 93 in the casing. The holding plate may then be lifted out. With this plate out of the way, sleeve 54 may be removed, freeing the right end of the block from the casing. It is necessary that the holding plate be removed before sleeve 54 is unscrewed as this plate acts as a stop for pin 58.

The chamfered face of wick holder 47 allows the peripheral portion of filter 46 to flare to the right, bringing it into close proximity with wick 49. The pressure of the fuel adjusting mechanism is concentrated in the center of the filter where it has its greatest effect on the transfer of fuel through passage 45, without affecting the flow of fuel from the wick to the filter.

Preferably, the threads of sleeve 55 are finer or of less pitch than the threads on screw 56. The screw is utilized to make a rough adjustment of the flame height of the lighter. The final, precise adjustment is made, within a limited range, by adjusting wheel 55. Both adjustments are readily accessible from the exterior of the lighter and can be manipulated while the lighter is burning.

In the event it is necessary to disassemble metering valve assembly 30, means are provided for facilitating removal of wick holder 47. A stud 47a extends therefrom and is externally threaded to receive a tool, as an internally threaded sleeve. The adjusting sleeve 54 and screw 56 may be removed exposing threaded stud 47a. Then a suitable tool is inserted into bore 40 and attached to the stud of the wickholder, whereupon it may be withdrawn.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pyrophoric lighter utilizing liquified fuel under pressure, a fuel control comprising: means defining a fuel chamber; a burner; means defining a fuel passage connecting said fuel chamber with said burner; a valve seat in said fuel passage; a ball valve between said valve seat and said burner; and a reciprocable plunger adjacent said ball and having a shoulder and a recess, said plunger having a first position in which said shoulder holds said ball valve member against said valve seat and a second position aligning said recess with said ball, permitting the pressure of said fuel to move said ball away from said valve seat.

2. In a pyrophoric lighter utilizing liquified fuel under pressure, filling valve means for a fuel chamber, comprising: means for receiving a spout of a filler can and providing an inlet passage to the fuel chamber; a burner fitting; a fuel passage from said chamber to said burner; a pressure reducer and fuel control valve in said fuel passage; a vent passage connected with said chamber independent of and spaced from said inlet passage, said vent passage extending from said chamber to said fuel passage at a point intermediate the burner fitting and the pressure reducer and control valve, the vent passage being open to atmosphere through said burner fitting.

3. In a pyrophoric lighter wherein pressurized fuel is supplied to a burner tube, an adjustable flame control, comprising: a fixed block including a fuel passage and a metering passage; compressible fuel metering means adjacent said metering passage; a pressure applying member contacting said fuel metering means and movable toward and away from said metering passage to vary the pressure on said metering means and control the fuel flow therethrough; means defining a threaded bore in said block, extending from said pressure applying member to the outer surface of said block; a sleeve having external and internal threads and received in said bore, said sleeve having a manually engageable portion exposed for manipulation to move said sleeve in said bore relative to said fuel metering means; and a screw threaded in said sleeve, having a manually engageable portion exposed for manipulation to move the screw with respect to the sleeve, said screw having an inner end in engagement with said pressure applying member, both said sleeve and said screw being adjustable in position in said bore to vary the pressure on said member.

4. A pyrophoric lighter utilizing pressurized liquid fuel which is supplied to an enclosed fuel reservoir by means of a pressurized fuel filler can, fuel filling means for the fuel reservoir, comprising: a fixed block adjacent said reservoir and having a fuel inlet passage therethrough communicating with the reservoir for filling the reservoir with fuel, said inlet passage having a portion engageable with a filler can to transmit fuel through the passage to the reservoir; valve means in said fuel inlet passage for permitting fuel flow into said reservoir and restraining fuel flow out of said reservoir, said valve means opening and closing responsive to fuel pressure-difierential on opposite sides thereof, said block having a vent passage communicating with said reservoir for relieving pressure from said reservoir during filling; vent valve means restricting flow in said vent passage; and an actuator for said vent valve located adjacent said inlet passage for engagement with a filler can, said actuator being moved to open said vent valve upon engagement of the filler can with said inlet passage.

5. In a pyrophoric lighter utilizing liquified fuel under pressure, valve actuating means comprising: a depressible thumb piece on said lighter, said thumb piece having a pair of spaced apart walls with a slot in each Wall; a valve actuator having spaced apart lugs extending into said slots and movable upon depression of said thumb piece to operate a fuel control valve, said lugs being radially arranged to permit assembly of said valve actuator on said thumb piece by turning relative thereto; and a thumb piece return spring having a leg extending through a slot in said actuator maintaining the actuator lugs in position in said thumb piece slots.

6. The lighter construction of claim 3 wherein said lighter has a fuel chamber and said pressure applying member carries a wick extending into said fuel chamber, said carrier being sealed with said bore and being removable with the Wick, through the bore.

7. The pyrophoric lighter of claim 6, wherein said member is slidable in the bore and has a surface thereon exposed through said bore and engageable with a mating tool for extracting the member and said wick through said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,163 6/1956 Zellweger 677.1 2,551,688 5/1951 Metzler et al. 677.1 2,665,573 1/1954 Spitalny 677.1 2,677,948 5/ 1954 Gehrie 677.1 2,681,554 6/1954 Peterson 67--7.1 2,736,181 2/1956 Seibert et a1 67-7.1 2,737,037 3/1956 Zellweger 67--7.1 2,750,774 6/1956 Perlin 67-7.1 2,784,561 3/1957 Postlewait 137525 X 2,943,471 7/1960 Newman 677.1 3,006,406 10/1961 Goodard 67-7.1 3,014,357 12/1961 Zellweger 67---7.1 3,055,201 9/1962 Smith 677.1 3,083,554 4/1963 Iketani 677.1 3,093,990 6/1963 Goddard 137587 X 3,096,636 7/1963 Newman .67-7.1 3,114,249 12/ 1963 Lowenthal 677.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 227,010 4/1963 Austria. 1,071,051 3/1954 France. 1,200,837 7/1959 France.

812,975 5/ 1959 Great Britain. 833,074 4/ 1960 Great Britain. 849,988 9/1960 Great Britain. 882,017 11/ 1961 Great Britain. 87,514 2/ 1958 Netherlands.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner. 

1. IN A PYROPHORIC LIGHTER UTILIZING LIQUIFIED FUEL UNDER PRESSURE, A FUEL CONTROL COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A FUEL CHAMBER; A BURNER; MEANS DEFINING A FUEL PASSAGE CONNECTING SAID FUEL CHAMBER WITH SAID BURNER; A VALVE SEAT IN SAID FUEL PASSAGE; A BALL VALVE BETWEEN SAID VALVE SEAT AND SAID BURNER; AND A RECIPROCABLE PLUNGER ADJACENT SAID BALL AND HAVING A SHOULDER AND A RECESS, SAID PLUNGER HAVING A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID VALVE SEAT AND A SECOND POSITION ALIGNING SAID RECESS WITH SAID BALL, PERMITTING THE PRESSURE OF SAID FUEL TO MOVE SAID BALL AWAY FROM SAID VALVE SEAT. 